MERIDA, MEXICO – PART II
You know you’ve discovered a good thing if you need 2 entries for one place. Part II of Merida was our favourite and rates very highly on our entire trip to date. The highlight of our visit to Merida was none other than a visit to the nearby cenotes (seh-not-ays) which are underground limestone caves (or sinkholes) – about a 1.5 hours’ drive from the city. We journeyed to a teeny tiny village called Cozuma that is located fairly well in the jungle. We were then ushered onto a horse drawn trolley on railway tracks (you know, the homemade type) and thumped, banged and rattled our way further into the jungle. We hadn’t really done much investigation into transportation means – our naive minds not considering that the trip didn’t solely consist of the bus taking us directly to our destination. Think again, narrow minded travellers! This IS Mexico after all. Crippled from severe jarring of the back, we waddled over to a ladder petruding out of a deep, deep hole in the ground, surrounded by a timber railed fence (again, another homemade jobarooni). After a fleeting WTF moment, we lowered ourselves into the darkness. And then… ‘it’ appeared! A luminous and clear freshwater swimming hole, twinkling with Godly like beams of sunlight sneaking through cracks in the ground above. Without hesitation, we launched into the crystal clearness and were immediately refreshed by the amazingly cool water due to the limestone surrounds… a big deal on a 38 degree day. We frolicked in these incredible oasis’s (there were three in total) for hours on end, challenging each other to leap off the side of the cave walls in hope to touch the bottom, some 15 metres below. Our shallow lung capacity and plain old inability didn’t allow for any triumphs but it was a tonne of fun trying just the same. A truly unforgettable moment that, well, won’t be forgotten. Ever.
An honorable mention must also go out to the historic Plaza Mayor Cathedral (across the plaza from our hostel) which was built between 1855 – 1899 under instruction of Spanish conqueror, Francisco de Montejo, his son, also named Francisco de Montejo and cousin, again named Francisco de Montejo! In a meagre effort not to completely offend the Mayan natives with forced conversion to Catholicism, the Cathedral’s cornerstones, foundations and pillars were made from original blocks from Mayan temples, some 3000 years old. There is a small chapel off the side of the Cathedral called the Blistered Christ Chapel – with the name originating from another chapel nearby that had burnt down to the ground in the 1960s. Miraculously, the only thing that survived the fire was the statue of Christ on the cross. The figure was blackened due to the smoke but incredibly, the only damage were ‘blisters’ on the figure’s hands and feet – EXACTLY where the nails would have been driven into him to attach him to the cross – as it were in the bible. It is commonly known that these kind of miracles happen often in Mexico and its believed such miracles are due to their intense following of the Catholic faith. Very interesting and eiry at the same time.
WIN:
Parting with our precious Pesos to see the cenotes which can only be found in Mexico.
FAIL:
Being absolutely flogged by march flies on the horse cart through the jungle and returning to the hostel looking like Lepers.
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